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Chapter 20
He had heard the male vampire's calls for help - he'd just chosen not to respond. He thought there was no need to worry - or at least hurry - because he was used to these kinds of calls. Sometimes, they were vampirates - vampires in training - calling for some miniscule reason. Sometimes they were faking it. It all depended on who was calling.
He knew the vampire who was calling - he used to be good friends with him. That was, until the vampire had double-crossed him. They were both on sentry duty and they had both picked up a human girl. The vampire - as young as he was - defeated the mortal. He wanted to take the girl in for his own "private investigation." Back at his hideout, but the vampiret - a vampire child, one born vampire - wouldn't stand for it. The vampire insisted that they take her in to the Ancestors. Although he tried to disuade the eager vampire, nothing worked. Grudgingly, he followed the vampiure to the Cave of Ancestors.
And damn it, the vampire had got the girl! He was able to do with her as he wished. But his companion? His companion was left out of the picture and punished for his suggestions! He swore to avenge the vampire - it had gotten everything he had ever wanted - and he knew know was the pefect oppertunity.
Part of him didn't want to answer the pleading calls, but another, stronger part of him was screaming at him to exact his revenge. And so he paid the overnight waitressat the diner he was having a coffee at and slowly walked outside.
He threw open the door of the gas station and peered around inside. he knew Lucifer would be able to make him out, and so he waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Growing tired of waiting, he went inside and kisked Lucifer in the back. The vampire recoiled and shot instantly to his feet. Instant had done this - Lucifer was still fast asleep. Now frustrated, he slapped the retired Private across the face.
Now fully awake, Lucifer looked him over for a quick second, then moaned. "Longua," he whispered, adding hatred to the name. "Why, of all people, did you have to be the one to find me?"
Longua gave a cheesy smile. "Why, Lucifer, you're not very polite." He was determined to drag this out as long as possible. "I though a Private like you would never need the help of a Healer like me." He waited.
Lucifer sighed. "Turns out I do." He glanced breifly at a figure on the floor. It was a teenaged girl. At first glance, Longua thought the girl was dead. But she wasn't - thanks to his vampire sense, he could see the blood slowly pump through her veins. She was dying, fast. Lucifer continued, "She was bit by a Shapire. She doesn't have much time, and I can't heal her on my own. I hate to admit it, but I need you, Longua. Will you help me?"
"Why should I help a whelp like her? She's of no use to me." Longua gave a cold, cruel smile.
Lucifer gulped and said, "That's Alaizabella, my daughter."
Longua studied the vampire opposite for a long moment, evaluating his face. Was Lucifer telling the truth? If he was, this girl was a legend. The first vampire child to be born half-human, and to live on human food! No one knew how she was able to live without a sufficent blood supply, or how she was free in the sunlight, as mugch as she wanted. Some say it was a work of the Gods. Other said the child wasn't Lucifer's. But Longua knew that it was a lite. He had seen the girl before, briefly, but knew it was Lucifer's daughter. He had seen her personality (Longua was able to peer into other vampire's souls and glance at their personalities.) There was no doubt in Longua's mind that this was Lucifer's child.
His mind made up, Longua decided to help the girl. It was, after all, his obligation to do so as a Healer. He decided to give the two of them a few bucks to get them back on their feet.
Gasping, Alaizabella botled upright. She shouted something even she did not understand, opened her eyes, and looked around. Lucifer hadn't moved her - they were in the same old gasoline station as before. Vageuly, she recalled his words. A Shapire's poisonous to vampires - their saliva can kill a vampire instantly, even if it was to splatter onto the skin.
Why aren't I dead? Alaizabella asked herself.
She heard the door to the stoor close, and Lucifer walked over to her, happy tears in his eyes. He forced a hug. "I'm so glad you're alright!" He said as he squeezed her tighter. "I thought I was going to loose you!"
As he backed off, Alaizabella asked him, "What kept me alive?"
"Sheer luck. It's amazing you're not dead."
"Who left?"
"That was me coming in. I heard you shout from outside, so I came in to see how you were doing."
"What were you doing?"
"Feeding." He answered simply. "I was trying to bag some for you, but it's hearder then initially implied. Sorry."
"That's fine - I'll go get something later." She was deeply suspicious of Lucifer's story. Yes, it did all add up - he was drenced in blood - but something about the way he said it caused a little red flag to fly up. But what for, exactly? Maybe it was the recovery. Why would she suddenly be alright if it was supposed to be deadly? Someone from the outside world had treated her. But who? Alaizabella's mind was so foggy - still - as it was, she couldn't come up with a possible explination to her querierers. She knew Lucifer would be no help, and so she was forced to find out for her own.
"Lucifer," she began, "What happened? How'd you get me better? I want the truth." She looked over to him, waiting.
Lucifer sighed. "Cal's bite was poisonous, as I'm sure you've put together already. You were close to death, and I couldn't leave or even bring you with me. So I called for help when the sun began to set to all the other vampires around here. You see, us vampires have the ability to speak to one another through thought, but only when the sun sets and rises. After those times, our links are torn apart. You have to be very strong-willed mentally to hear everyone else's thoughts and not go crazy. Only the greater vampires have learned the skill."
"What happened after you contacted someone?"
"I didn't think I had, at first. No one actually answered me. I laid you back on the grounf and laid beside you, waiting for doom to come. Then, someone showed up. A Healer. He took the poison out of you and fixed my burned skin." He held up his arm to show her.
"Who helped us so generously?"
"An old...friend of mine. Kindly healed us both."
She heared the hesitation in his voice. He had no longer considered this person a friend. "How'd he heal us?" Alaizabella pressed on. She wanted answers, knew that Lucifer wouldn't tell her directly. But he might let something slip without realizing it.
"Healers are specially trained vampires. They are trained in the use of magic and potionry. Not all vampires can control these two elements - only those born through the Healer's line."
"Can you?"
She waited as Lucifer studied her. He answered, "No. I wasn't born in that family."
"How does one become a Private?"
"Either you know the right people, or you fight your way to the top. You must prove yourself to the Ancestors themselves. Why?"
She shrugged. "Just curious." She paused for a moment to think, then, "Why don't we move in around people? We'll be less conspicious, and we'll find somewhere nice to live. There'll be as much blood as needed if we move to a big city." She waited for his answer.
"I don't like living around people. You know I was born vampire. We're basically solitary beings - up to two other vampires are good enough for us. Any more and tensions flare. Living in a crowded area is too much for me."
"Are all vampires this way?"
"No. I have a friend who can't stand being along - he blooded at least five people." The word blooded brought back the memory of the dreams. The fat man...Could it have been he who came to their rescue?
Alaizabella rejected the thought almost instantly. The fat man, as she remembered, gave off an air of evil towards Lucifer and her - he had hated them both. He couldn't have been the one to help them.
Without thinking, Alaizabella said to Lucifer, "I want to move to the nearest city. You can get a night job and eventually we'll have made enough money to take a train or something to Wyoming. From there, we travel on foot. We'll be there in half the time."
Lucifer just stared at her. "I hate humans."
"So? I hate traveling like this. If you get a good enough job, we'll have the money to travel easy. We don't need food or any sort of ressources, so they're won't be any bills. When you get the job, you just tell them you're homeless. We look it, don't we?" She sadly looked down to her prised dress and sighed. "Oh well."
Lucifer was silent for a long moment. "You're starting to think like a true vampire. Resourceful, wise, calculating...I'm proud."
"Is that a yes?" She asked, her hopes rising.
"No." Alaizabella's heart sank. Lucifer continued, "It's a I-really-don't-want-to-but-I-have-no-other-choice."
Alaizabella squealed with happiness and forced a hug with Lucifer. "Thank you, Lucifer! Thank you so much!" It seemed she was determined to rub it in his face, but he knew her thanks were whole-hearted. He felt his heart sink as realization hit, but didn't complain. He wanted his daughter happy, and soon begn to realize he was acting like a real Father.
Well, there you have it. The infamous chapter 20. It took a while for the creative juices to come back, but through the magic of Beethoven I have found them again! Hopefully there will be more chapters in the future - I'm determined to finish this, as I am with all my other stories. Feedback of any sort is welcome, so review!